Running with Jack

Swim Report

Last night I stopped at the pool on the way home from work to swim some laps. I knocked out a 1000 meters breast stroke, took a short break, then worked on my freestyle. I managed almost a 100 meters freestyle before I wore myself out, a new record. Then I did another 200 meters of slow deliberate freestyle, trying to really concentrate on the right form. I needed several breaks, but I’m getting there. I really need a freestyle course so I can learn this right, I expend entirely too much energy due to the bad form and poor breathing techinques. But I am determined to transform myself into one of the fish that I see at the swimming pool all the time.

Run Report

Saturday morning is my next long run, 28K/17M. As I need to help my wife get the house in order for guests over the holiday I want to try to hit the trail by 5:30 a.m. I’m a bit concerned about the trails freezing as it is raining this morning and they are predicting colder temperatures for tomorrow. We’ll see.

More Diet Talk

I have been talking a lot about my diet lately. What I didn’t say is that I set a mini-goal for myself this year that I would maintain my weight the last week before Christmas. Historically I gain at least 4-5 pounds before Christmas and another 5-10 during and after Christmas. This was the first year that I did not pig-out and gain weight before Christmas. Let me say that again, this is the FIRST year that I have accomplished this in my lifetime, period!

Now I’m not a Scrooge, Christmas will be celebrated with great enthusiasm, and in Germany they celebrate for two days the 25th and the 26th, so I will definitely be eating in overabundance. But come Tuesday its back to the diet with a vengeance. As of this morning I am 9 pounds away from my ultimate weight goal of 150 lbs. I am going to try really hard to get rid of those 9 lbs (and whatever I gain over Christmas) before my marathon in March.